“The circular economy has the power to transform the business community,” says Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “The Circular Economy Toolbox will help foster innovative ideas and solutions that can strengthen business performance while invigorating sustainable development and economic growth.”

The concept of the circular economy emphasizes longevity, reuse and recycling within business operations beyond standard sustainability practices, says the foundation. The Circular Economy Toolbox will assist organizations in the development of programs that capitalize on the business value of the circular economy, providing actionable tools and steps for companies to adjust their practices and take advantage of the long-term benefits of becoming more circular.

The tool features a repository of projects that highlight how companies have successfully implemented circular business practices. It also provides information for businesses, including:

an overview of the circular economy;

background on the differences between circularity and sustainability;

a glossary of terms and keywords; and

a list of circular economy resources.

Euan Murray, chief executive of TSC, says, “The circular economy concept is important because it gives us a way of looking at product supply chains as holistic systems rather than as separate, individual activities. Using this tool, we can now expand the scope of sustainability right across the supply chain, rather than getting products to market first and tackling the sustainability issues after.”

Murray continues, “This approach aligns well with the vision and methodology used by TSC to look at a system as more than the sum of its parts. TSC is honored to partner with RILA and the U.S. Chamber Foundation to create this essential and important tool.”

Adam Siegel, senior vice president of research innovation and sustainability at RILA, adds, “RILA is excited to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and The Sustainability Consortium to create this important resource for brands looking to participate in and grow our nation’s circular economy. We designed this toolkit to help America’s retailers navigate the process of moving away from the traditional ‘take-make-waste’ approach into a circular and more sustainable model. As America’s retailers focus on promoting sustainability from shore to shelf, we want to help them every step of the way. This toolkit is a new way to help move industry forward.”

The toolbox will be a dynamic platform and will accept new projects for consideration on an ongoing basis.

TSC, Scottsdale, Arizona, is a global organization dedicated to improving the sustainability of consumer products.

RILA, Arlington, Virginia, is the trade association of more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center is a leading resource for businesses dedicated to making a difference. For more than 15 years, its programs, events, research and relationships with key nongovernmental organizations and governments have helped businesses make the world a better place, the foundation says.

This is the second year in a row that Aqua Metals has been recognized for its innovation and leadership in the metals world, the company says. Both awards recognize the AquaRefining process, the lead industry’s first environmentally friendly electrochemical technology for lead-acid battery recycling.

“To be recognized by a renowned global organization two years in a row delivers credibility to the significant progress we’ve made in bringing AquaRefining to commercialization,” says Stephen Clarke, chairman and CEO of Aqua Metals. “This is a reflection of the sheer talent and hard work of our team, as we ramped up production at our flagship AquaRefinery over the past several months.”

Aqua Metals’ patent pending AquaRefining process is a closed loop, room temperature electrochemical process that emits virtually no harmful byproducts, according to the company. The modular design of the AquaRefining technology enables unprecedented scalability, allowing for the co-location of lead-acid battery manufacturing, distribution and recycling. For the first time, the lead industry has an environmentally and economically sustainable solution to efficiently recycle lead-acid batteries, the company says.

Aqua Metals executives attended the Platts awards ceremony in London May 18, 2017, where the winners were announced. The company also was named finalist for two additional awards—Deal of the Year and Industry Leadership–Base & Specialty Metals. In 2016, Aqua Metals won the Rising Star award and was a finalist in the Industry Leadership–Base & Specialty Metals category. The awards consider entrants from more than 150 countries and represent a prestigious industry honor for innovation.

Missouri passes Slow Down to get Around legislation

Motorists must slow down and proceed with caution when approaching waste and recycling vehicles or face penalties.

The Missouri General Assembly approved legislation May 19, 2017, that is designed to protect workers in the waste and recycling industry on the state’s roadways, making it the 16th state to pass such legislation, commonly referred to as Slow Down to Get Around (SDTGA). The Missouri Chapter of the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), Arlington, Virginia, worked with key stakeholders to develop this legislation and achieve its support in the Missouri legislature, according to a news release from the NWRA.

Missouri’s version of the Slow Down to Get Around law requires motorists who approach a stationary vehicle displaying lighted amber or amber and white lights to proceed with caution and yield the right of way, if possible with regard to safety and traffic conditions, by navigating into a lane not adjacent to that of the stationary vehicle if on a roadway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or proceed with caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be unsafe or impossible.

Passage of this legislation was accomplished by modifying an existing Missouri law requiring motorists to slow down if approaching flashing lights on stationary vehicles to now include the waste and recycling industry. This effort was led in the Missouri legislature by Sen.Dan Hegeman and Rep. Craig Redmon. Sen. Dave Schatz, chair of Transportation, helped shepherd this expansion of the current law to include the waste and recycling industry in this safety bill, according to the NWRA.

The law goes into effect Aug. 28, 2017.

“We are very pleased to know that, because of this law, our industry employees on Missouri roadways will be safer,” says Kevin O’Brien, chair of the NWRA Missouri chapter and manager for WCA. “What we need now is for the public to be aware and follow this law. We need motorists to be on the watch for flashing amber or amber and white lights on trucks, and then actively exercise caution around them. Following this law will save lives by preventing unnecessary accidents and injuries.”

The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the waste and recycling collection occupation ranks fifth in the nation for fatal work injury rates. Recent data shows that many accidents involving waste and recycling collection workers are caused by inattentive motorists or by distracted driving.

Slow Down to Get Around is a nationwide campaign by NWRA and its state chapters. NWRA says it encourages motorists in all states to be aware of the roadside dangers facing waste and recycling collection workers. NWRA says it is asking the media, public safety and transportation agencies along with community leaders in Missouri to educate motorists about the new law.

“ScrapTheftAlert.com was created by the recycling industry as a way of assisting law enforcement in solving crimes involving materials theft,” says Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “Since its inception, it has become a successful tool, not only in apprehending criminals but [also] as a way of sharing valuable intelligence related to crimes across jurisdiction. We are extremely pleased that this partnership will further strengthen the relationship between recyclers and law enforcement and provide needed resources to combat materials theft.”

ScrapTheftAlert.com is a free online alert system that allows registered users to send broadcast email alerts out to those within a 100-mile radius of a theft (the area can be expanded if needed). Detailed descriptions and photos can be uploaded, so nearby recycling facilities can be on the lookout for stolen materials. In addition, it contains enhanced search features for vetted law enforcement officials. Since its launch in 2008, more than 18,500 alerts have been issued by more than 21,000 active users. The system has helped recover more than $2.1 million in property, according to ISRI.

Chairman of the RISS Directors Association and Executive Director of the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN) Donald Kennedy says, “Through the use of RISS technology and a great partnership with ISRI, we are able to assist in the expanded access to ScrapTheftAlert.com to the nation's law enforcement. We are pleased and proud to be a part of this important project.”

RISS receives funding from Congress and is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. It provides investigative and intelligence support services and information sharing networks to thousands of local, state, federal and tribal criminal justice agencies. It consists of six regional centers and the RISS Technology Support Center.

EPA announces Superfund task force

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has announced the creation of a Superfund task force. The task force will provide recommendations within 30 days on how the EPA can streamline and improve the Superfund program, including restructuring and expediting the cleanup process, reducing the burden on cooperating parties, incentivizing parties to remediate sites, encouraging private investment in cleanups and sites and promoting the revitalization of properties across the country.

“I am confident that, with a renewed sense of urgency, leadership and fresh ideas, the Superfund program can reach its full potential of returning formerly contaminated sites to communities for their beneficial use,” Pruitt wrote in a memo to EPA staff.

Pruitt recently issued a directive for remedies of $50 million or more to be approved by the administrator to help revitalize contaminated sites faster.

Pruitt recently visited the USS Lead Superfund Site in East Chicago, Indiana, to view ongoing cleanup activities. He met with East Chicago residents, federal, state and local officials and pledged improved coordination and communication as cleanup continues. He was the first EPA Administrator to visit this Superfund site, which was listed on the National Priorities List of the worst contaminated sites in the country in 2009.